Mariners Notebook: Bedard's Silence Keeps M's in the Dark

If you think Erik Bedard measures his words around reporters, imagine what it's like for the Seattle Mariners. The team doesn't get a lot out of him, either.

Manager Jim Riggleman shed some light on that Thursday when he compared Bedard's injury situation to what the team experienced this season with pitcher Miguel Batista. Riggleman said that while Batista verbalized his back problems from the first tweak at spring training, Bedard often says little about his tender left shoulder.

"They were both pitching not at full strength. Miguel was communicating that to us probably earlier and more clearly than Erik did," Riggleman said. "Erik basically got through five innings that July 4 game and basically said, 'I'm done. My arm is hanging a little bit.' Probably, that had been going on a couple of months. We were a little more in tune to what was happening with (Batista) because he brought it to our attention early on."

Asked if he was confident Bedard, on the disabled list since July 5, would pitch again this season, Riggleman said he couldn't answer because he doesn't know the true state of the left-hander's shoulder.

"I want him to," Riggleman said. "I don't know how much pain is in there, how much better he's feeling. I think Erik is the only one who can answer that and unfortunately he's not talking."

What is known is that Bedard may resume his throwing program this weekend after he was shut down this week after experiencing discomfort. There's still no timetable for getting him back on the mound, and Riggleman said he might not pitch competitively again until mid-September — if that soon — when the Mariners' instructional league program begins in Arizona.

Silva Improving

Right-hander Carlos Silva played catch Thursday and, barring setback, the Mariners expect him to pitch when he's eligible to come off the disabled list Aug. 31. He went on the DL Aug. 16 because of tendinitis in his right elbow.

"He'll play catch a couple more times, then throw a couple of bullpens," trainer Rick Griffin said. "He has made a lot of progress."

Feierabend Eager For His Start

The last game Ryan Feierabend pitched, he gave up 10 hits and six runs in three innings Sunday at Minnesota. The last game he pitched at Safeco Field, the home crowd booed when he walked Ken Griffey Jr. when the Reds were in Seattle last year.

Forgive Feierabend if he considers tonight's start against the A's as a grand opportunity to erase those bad memories, among others.

"This is where I want to be. Unfortunately, the first start back was just like last year," he said.

It's been an up-and-down season.

Feierabend went 7-1 with a 2.04 ERA with the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers, but the season was interrupted with a two-month stint on the DL with a strained elbow. He came back from the injury and pitched well, but it still didn't seem like that would get him a promotion to the Mariners. That worried him.

"I asked (Tacoma manager) Daren Brown about two weeks ago, 'What do I have to do to get out of here?' He said the elbow injury didn't help things at all," Feierabend said. "Before the injury, they didn't see me staying down there past June."

The Mariners called him up last weekend after Silva went on the DL, and tonight's start is a chance for Feierabend to prove he should stay even after Silva comes back late this month.

"I look at every year as an opportunity to show what I can do at this level," Feierabend said. "Last year didn't go so well for me, but next year nothing is set in stone. I'm looking forward to showing what I can do and hopefully next spring I can get an even better look."

Minor Leaguer Sosa Suspsended

Former major league pitcher Jorge Sosa, now in the Seattle Mariners organization, was suspended for 50 games after testing positive under baseball's minor league drug program.

The 31-year-old right-hander, who began this season with the New York Mets, tested positive for an amphetamine — considered a performance-enhancing substance — while pitching for Triple-A Tacoma in the Pacific Coast League.

The suspension is effective immediately.

Seattle signed Sosa to a minor league contract in July after he was designated for assignment by the Mets on May 13.

Sosa was 4-1 with a 4.10 ERA in 20 games for the Mets this season after going 9-8 with New York in 2007. After making his debut with Tampa Bay in 2002, Sosa also had stints with Atlanta and St. Louis in seven major league seasons.

His career mark is 40-49 with five saves and a 4.67 ERA in 254 major league appearances, including 88 starts.

Short Hops

Riggleman on how badly he wants to avoid 100 losses: "I certainly don't want to lose 100 games, but I don't want to lose 99, either. That's not something to be proud of." Mike Morse, on the DL since April 14 because of a separated left shoulder, has been hitting and fielding in pregame drills. He will go to the instructional league in Arizona when it begins Sept. 15. When Ryan Rowland-Smith started Thursday, he began what will be a string of three straight left-handed starters for the Mariners (followed by Feierabend today and Jarrod Washburn on Saturday). It will be the fourth time since 1999 that lefties had started three straight games for the M's.